As Suh addressed reporters after that game against the Cowboys, it was fair to wonder if that was the end of an era in Detroit, and sure enough, the star defensive tackle left via free agency in the off-season, signing with Miami.

The Lions have no choice but to move on without Suh, hoping his departure won’t significantly weaken what was one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2014.

“The guys have come back in better shape,’’ coach Jim Caldwell said. ’’That’s not all across the board, every guy, but the majority of them. I think that’s kind of part of their makeup anyway.

“They did so last summer between our spring and the summer. They did so during the season in terms of their efforts, and they’re making certain that they got themselves in great shape and we hope that continues.’’

The Lions have won only one post-season game in the past half-century, and they haven’t made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since making three consecutive appearances from 1993-95.

Detroit lost 24-20 at Dallas – the game turned when what looked like a pass interference flag on the Cowboys was picked up by the officials.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford faces familiar questions after Detroit’s offense never really took a big step forward in Caldwell’s first season. Stafford cut down on his interceptions, but his 4,257 yards passing was his lowest total in a full season as a pro.

“You want to be explosive and efficient at the same time,’’ Stafford said. ’’The way this league is, you throw for a lot of yards and a lot of touchdowns, it’s usually a successful season. I’m just going to continue to try getting better. Make sure that we’re not turning the ball over, and making big plays.’’

Receiver Calvin Johnson turns 30 in September after catching 71 passes for 1,077 yards last season – his lowest mark in each category since 2009.

Here are a few things to watch with the Lions, who report to training camp Sunday.

NEW DEFENSIVE LINE: The departures of free agents Suh and Nick Fairley left plenty of uncertainty on the interior. The Lions traded for DT Haloti Ngata of Baltimore and signed DT Tyrunn Walker away from New Orleans.
Don’t assume the Lions’ pass rush will be weak without Suh. DE Ziggy Ansah had 15 1/2 sacks in his first two seasons, and DE Jason Jones had five last season.

PROTECTING THE PASSER: Stafford was sacked a career-high 45 times last season, and the Lions have given their offensive line a makeover. Gone are C Dominic Raiola and G Rob Sims. C Travis Swanson is in line to start, and Detroit used its first-round draft pick on G Laken Tomlinson.

IN THE BACKFIELD: The Lions cut RB Reggie Bush, paving the way for Joique Bell to be the clear No. 1 ball carrier. But Bell could use some help, and second-round draft pick Ameer Abdullah may be able to provide it.

Abdullah rushed for more than 1,600 yards in each of his final two seasons at Nebraska.

BACKUP QUARTERBACK: Kellen Moore signed with the Lions in 2012 and has never played in an NFL game. The former Boise State star is 26 now, and Caldwell spoke highly enough of him during minicamp that it’s fair to wonder if Moore can push Dan Orlovsky for the No. 2 quarterback spot.

Orlovsky hasn’t attempted an NFL pass since 2012, when he was with Tampa Bay.

EBRON’S DEVELOPMENT: Last year’s first-round pick, TE Eric Ebron, caught 25 passes for 248 yards and a touchdown. Ebron should have a chance to shine in this offense – especially since Johnson and WR Golden Tate occupy so much of the defense’s attention – but the 6-foot-4, 265-pounder still has to prove he can be an impact player in the NFL.

Ebron was picked two spots ahead of Odell Backham Jr., so the pressure is on.

TICKETS: Single-game tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. Tickets are available on the team’s website, at the Ford Field box office or by calling 877-212-8898.

SCHEDULE: Home opener is Sept. 27 against the Denver Broncos. The Thanksgiving Day game is against the Philadelphia Eagles Nov. 26. They’ll host the Green Bay Packers Thursday Dec. 3.

LAST YEAR: Made playoffs in coach Jim Caldwell’s first season and had chance to win NFC North before losing at Green Bay in Week 17. Defense shut down opposing running games, and Detroit allowed only 282 points, second fewest in NFC. Matthew Stafford and offense didn’t quite live up to expectations, but he threw only 12 interceptions, fewest of career in full season.

FINAL MOVE: Detroit filled their 90th and final roster spot Tuesday by signing cornerback R.J. Stanford. Stanford played in five games with the Miami Dolphins and replaces Bill Bentley, who was released after June’s minicamp.

CAMP NEEDS: Find out how quickly G Laken Tomlinson and RB Ameer Abdullah, team’s top two draft picks this year, can contribute. There’s room for them to play right away after departures on offensive line and in backfield. Abdullah in particular could be counted on to produce in running game along with RB Joique Bell now that Bush is gone.

EXPECTATIONS: Losses of Suh and Fairley mean repeating last season’s impressive performance defensively could be difficult. Lions acquired Ngata right away as Suh left via free agency. Detroit is hoping restructured offensive line will help keep pressure off Stafford. Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate remain formidable receiving tandem. Lions have won one postseason game in last half-century, during 1991 season. They nearly added to that total last season and will be eager to earn another chance.

Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell is one of six NFL players promoting the International Series in London, England.

Bell, who was joined by Nick Mangold of the New York Jets, Cordy Glenn of the Buffalo Bills, Cairo Santos of the Kansas City Chiefs, Sergio Brown of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Olivier Vernon of the Miami Dolphins, was at the Black Prince Community Hub Wednesday as part of the Play 60 scheme.

The Lions will play the Chiefs on Nov. 1 at Wembley Stadium with a 9:30 a.m. kickoff.

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/lions-running-back-joique-bell-helps-launch-nfl-series-in-england/feed0Joique Bell of the Detroit Lions helps to coach a team of local school children during the NFL Launch of the Play 60 scheme at the Black Prince Community Hub on July 15, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)starsportsdeskMatthew Stafford says he’s not dwelling on playoff loss to Dallashttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/matthew-stafford-says-hes-not-dwelling-on-playoff-loss-to-dallas
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/matthew-stafford-says-hes-not-dwelling-on-playoff-loss-to-dallas#commentsFri, 19 Jun 2015 21:58:15 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=497379]]>ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Matthew Stafford tries not to spend too much time thinking about how close his Detroit Lions came to an elusive victory in the post-season.

“In this business, if you’re thinking about what was, you’ve got issues,” Stafford said. “I feel like I’ve trained my body and my mind for as long as I’ve played quarterback to forget the last play, forget the last game, whatever it was, good or bad, and go forward.”

If the second half of Detroit’s playoff game at Dallas had gone a bit differently, the narrative surrounding Stafford might have changed considerably.

The Lions have won one post-season game in the past half-century, and in six seasons with the team, Stafford has been unable to add to that meagre total. Detroit nearly broke through last season, but the Lions allowed the final 17 points in that 24-20 loss to the Cowboys.

There was, of course, that moment of controversy when officials reversed themselves, negating what at first looked like a crucial pass interference call against Dallas. That was particularly tough to take for the Lions and their fans.

Because Detroit lost, Stafford’s performance in that game — 28 of 42 for 323 yards — has been largely forgotten. Instead, he enters this season still trying to prove that he is the quarterback who can lead the Lions deep into the post-season.

Last year was his first season under new coach Jim Caldwell, and his numbers were fairly pedestrian. He threw for 4,257 yards — the lowest full-season total of his career — with 22 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

The Lions have done their best to put talent around him. Before last season, they added receiver Golden Tate. Now they’ve overhauled their offensive line and drafted running back Ameer Abdullah. And some more familiarity with the system could help.

“It’s the second year in this thing,” star receiver Calvin Johnson said at minicamp Thursday. “His comfort level has risen a lot. I’m sure if you talked to him, he’d probably say the same thing.”

Stafford said there’s no question the team is making strides this off-season. Detroit made the playoffs as a wild card last season, thanks in part to a terrific defence. With Ndamukong Suh having left via free agency, the Lions may need more from the offence.

Stafford measures up favourably — by a wide margin — against other recent Detroit quarterbacks. But as the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft, the standard is higher for him.

Stafford’s 2011 season — his only other playoff appearance — remains a bit of a benchmark. He completed 63.5 per cent of his passes that season, throwing for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns.

His yardage has declined steadily since then, although he did complete 60.3 per cent of his passes in 2014, his first time over 60 since 2011.

Stafford says he’ll spend some time over the next five or six weeks thinking of some personal goals he’d like to reach this season.

“I have them, usually every year. Just things that maybe on paper you can quantify, maybe you can’t,” he said. “I’ll spend some time and think about that, and you’ll probably ask me about it in training camp, and I won’t tell you, and it’ll be great.”

Although Caldwell is fine with players having personal goals — and he wants them to be lofty — he objects to the idea that the offence needs to be more flashy or put up huge numbers.

“We’re more interested in winning games,” Caldwell said. “So, sometimes that requires an offence to take care of the ball and not give it away and be very, very effective. It has nothing to do with really scoring. We can play defence. We have a good defensive team and when you do that you have to play complementary football.”

In other words, the team’s success or failure hinges on more than just its quarterback.

“I know a lot of people that like to kind of point and say, ’Matthew’s got to do this,”’ Caldwell said. “Matthew just has to do his job.”

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/matthew-stafford-says-hes-not-dwelling-on-playoff-loss-to-dallas/feed0Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford throws during drills at NFL football minicamp, in Allen Park, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)associatedpresswsLions running back Joique Bell teaches rookie Ameer Abdullahhttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/lions-running-back-joique-bell-teaches-rookie-ameer-abdullah
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/lions-running-back-joique-bell-teaches-rookie-ameer-abdullah#commentsThu, 18 Jun 2015 22:04:55 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=496625]]>ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Joique Bell remembers what it was like to be a rookie, when he was with Buffalo and roomed with first-round draft pick C.J. Spiller.

As they prepared for the season, the two running backs were up late quizzing each other on the playbook.

“He asked me a play, and simultaneously his phone went off. He answers his phone and said, ‘Listen, let me call you back, I’m studying with Joique,”’ Bell said. “He hangs up the phone, he gave me the play again and he looked over there. I was sleeping on the playbook.”

Adjusting to the NFL isn’t easy, even for players with undeniable talent. Now a 28-year-old veteran coming off a couple of productive seasons, Bell is the top returning running back for the Detroit Lions.

But he also sees plenty of potential in Ameer Abdullah, the running back the Lions took in the second round of this year’s draft.

His advice for Abdullah is simple.

“Go to sleep on the playbook,” Bell said.

The Lions won 11 games last season and made the playoffs as a wild card, but the running game has needed improving for a while now. Reggie Bush was cut this off-season, removing some of Bell’s competition from the backfield. Bell got the most carries on the team anyway last season, rushing for a career-high 860 yards on 223 attempts.

Bell has now established himself after bouncing around the league a bit initially. He never played a game for Buffalo, and after stints with Philadelphia, Indianapolis and New Orleans, he caught on with the Lions and began contributing in Detroit in 2012.

“By the time I got here, I had learned four different offences,” Bell said.

With Bush gone, the Lions drafted Abdullah, who had a stellar college career at Nebraska. He’s made a strong impression already during the team’s off-season work, and he’s trying to learn from more experienced players such as Bell.

“He’s a seasoned vet, he knows everything about the playbook,” Abdullah said Wednesday at mini-camp. “He knows the little things that could make a special running back, so I’m soaking in everything that he’s teaching me.”

Abdullah isn’t the only addition aimed at improving the running game. Detroit drafted guard Laken Tomlinson in the first round and traded for offensive lineman Manny Ramirez.

Those moves have been viewed as an attempt to provide better pass protection for quarterback Matthew Stafford, but an upgraded offensive line can help the running game too.

“We definitely just loaded up our offensive line,” Bell said. “It definitely is going to give us some extra holes to run through. At the same time, we’ve got to do our part and make sure we read it all right and hit the right holes.”

There’s a mental aspect to being a productive runner, as well as a physical one. It’s a lot for a rookie to handle, but the Lions are hopeful Abdullah will be ready to help Bell in the backfield this season.

“I think the older guys that have been here, the veterans understand the importance of the young guys coming in, fitting in quickly and being in position to help us, particularly when they have talent,” coach Jim Caldwell said.

“You’ll see (defensive back) Rashean Mathis, for example, with (Darius) Slay … working on techniques, even behind the huddle. So you’re seeing the same thing, obviously, with Joique and Ameer.”

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/lions-running-back-joique-bell-teaches-rookie-ameer-abdullah/feed0Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah runs through a drill during NFL football minicamp, Wednesday, June 17, 2015, in Allen Park, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)associatedpresswsDetroit’s revamped offensive line draws attention at mini-camphttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/detroits-revamped-offensive-line-draws-attention-at-mini-camp
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/detroits-revamped-offensive-line-draws-attention-at-mini-camp#commentsTue, 16 Jun 2015 19:21:25 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=495575]]>Despite advancing to the playoffs for just the second time in the 21st century, the Detroit Lions allowed 45 sacks — 22 more than the previous season and 11th worst in the NFL.

As the final mandatory off-season mini-camp opened Tuesday in Allen Park, offensive co-ordinator Joe Lombardi said the line wasn’t the only reason for the increase.

“I think it’s a combination of things,” he said. “Every sack has got a different reason. Sometimes the quarterback’s got to get the ball out, sometimes someone gets beat, sometimes someone misses an assignment, so there were a number of factors.”

The Lions traded for former guard Manny Ramirez on draft day, but the team appears to be hoping Laken Tomlinson will start and bookend returning starter Larry Warford.

Tomlinson, a six-foot-three 323-pound guard selected from Duke with the 28th overall pick, signed a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth year worth about $8.3 million.

Ramirez can shift to centre if necessary, and would add depth behind snapper Travis Swanson, who’s expected to replace the departed Dominic Raiola.

If tackles Riley Reiff and LaAdrian Waddle return to starting spots, the prospective offensive line would average less than two seasons of NFL experience. That doesn’t concern Lombardi.

“The more experience the better, but I think it’s a smart group, it’s a well-coached group, so it’s not a huge concern by any stretch,” he said. “I think if everyone stays healthy — knock on wood — we’ve got long-term stability there at the offensive line, which is really good.“

Ramirez, who began his career in Detroit before playing his last four seasons in Denver, is the only lineman on the current roster with more than four years of service.

Coach Jim Caldwell said he hopes the veteran can help the less-experienced linemen.

“You can just tell from a leadership standpoint, I mean, he’s tremendous,” Caldwell said. “Real solid guy, just a person that’s well-rounded, has a good sense of what being a real pro is, and I think you’ll see some of that wear off on some of our younger guys.”

After the first day of mini-camp, Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford spoke with reporters. It was the first time she’s spoken to reporters in a formal setting since taking over the team last year following the death of her husband.

She said she’s been to every away game along with the ones in Detroit and it’s been an enjoyable part of her life. She said she’s hoping for more of the same after the team’s playoff appearance last season.

The Lions ranked 22nd in scoring offence last season yet finished 11-5 and reached the NFC playoffs thanks to a defence that held teams to an average of 17.6 points — third-best in the league.

Lombardi said he learned a lot in year one and has hit the ground running heading into year two.

“Certainly with the older guys, you know, when they break the huddle there’s less stress that they’re going to line up incorrectly at this time of year,” Lombardi told detroitlions.com.

“Last year when they were first learning it, things were going a little slower, so the tempo is better, it’s more crisp. Guys know where to go and I think a lot of the second-level thinking that happens when you’re running routes and stuff is coming more natural for these guys. It’s been a lot smoother.”

Golden Tate of the Detroit Lions celebrates with fans after beating the Minnesota Vikings 16-14 at Ford Field on December 14, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Receiver Golden Tate, who made an immediate impact last season after coming from Seattle, said there’s no pressure on the offence.

“We don’t need to change our identity, we just need to be a little bit better,” Tate said. “We don’t need to do too much. We just need to be detailed.”

The focus will be up front, where the Lions retool an offensive line that allowed 45 sacks last season — 22 more than in 2014. Riley Reiff and LaAdrian Waddle appear to have tackle spots locked up and Larry Warford seems secure at one of the guard spots.

Manny Ramirez, who played his first three seasons in Detroit before spending the next four with Denver, appears to be the frontrunner for the other guard spot.

Duke offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson poses for photos with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Detroit Lions as the 28th pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Thursday, April 30, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Second-year centre Travis Swanson will be pushed into a starting role after backing up longtime snapper Dominic Raiola, who was released after last season. Rookie guard Laken Tomlinson, Detroit’s first-round pick, also should vie for reps on the line.

Lombardi said he’s confident the line will be less porous this fall.

“We feel real good we’re on the right track to cut down on those numbers,” he said. “Certainly with the older guys, there’s no stress their going to line up incorrectly this time of year.

The other big change is in the backfield. The Lions parted ways with Reggie Bush and drafted Nebraska rusher Ameer Abdullah in the second round. He’ll challenge veterans Joique Bell and Theo Riddick for the most reps.

Like Riddick, Abdullah has gotten the co-ordinator’s attention with his ability to catch the ball.

Lombardi came from New Orleans last year after the Lions hired coach Jim Caldwell and has prized backs, who are effective receivers. The Saints never had a 1,000-yard rusher during his tenure as quarterbacks coach, but Drew Brees often targeted players who lined up in the backfield.

“These guys get more reps and it’s an exceptionally bright group,” Lombardi said. “It’s going to shake out well.”

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/lions-offensive-co-ordinator-joe-lombardi-to-wrap-up-final-mini-camp/feed0New Orleans Saints quarterbacks coach Joe Lombardi watches practice in Miami. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)associatedpresswsGolden Tate of the Detroit Lions celebrates with fans after beating the Minnesota Vikings 16-14 at Ford Field on December 14, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Duke offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson poses for photos with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Detroit Lions as the 28th pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Thursday, April 30, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah runs a drill during an NFL football rookie minicamp in Allen Park, Mich., Friday, May 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)Ex-Lion Ndamukong Suh draws attention at Dolphins camphttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/ex-lion-ndamukong-suh-draws-attention-at-dolphins-camp
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/ex-lion-ndamukong-suh-draws-attention-at-dolphins-camp#commentsThu, 28 May 2015 00:44:59 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=487272]]>Miami Dolphins attendance is on the rise. Ndamukong Suh showed up for practice this week.

The $114-million defensive tackle drew attention for his absence from off-season training sessions in recent weeks, but he was on the field with the rest of his new teammates for the Dolphins’ first organized team activity.

Like the training sessions, attending OTAs is voluntary but strongly encouraged by coaches. Taking part was an easy decision, Suh said.

In truth, Suh sometimes skipped voluntary workouts during his five years with the Detroit Lions, including minicamp in April 2014. That didn’t keep Miami from giving him a six-year contract in March that makes him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

He took part in the Dolphins’ first training session last month, and the organization posted photos on social media of him lifting weights with teammates. But he soon left and had not been with the team recently.

Suh declined to discuss why he skipped training sessions.

’’Next question,’’ he said.

Thanks to Suh, the Dolphins were able to report 100 percent participation at the first practice.

’’Everything is voluntary,’’ coach Joe Philbin said. ’’We’ve told the team what we believe in in terms of the significance of the offseason program. We’re just happy that everybody was here today.’’

Philbin declined to say whether he expects Suh to attend the nine remaining OTAs scheduled over the next 16 days.

’’Again, it’s voluntary,’’ he said. ’’We’d love to have everybody here, but things happen. We coach the guys that are here.’’

As with most teams at this time of year, optimism is high at Dolphins camp. Their busy offseason included the revamping of the receiving corps and a $77.7 million, four-year contract extension for quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Suh never won a playoff game with the Lions, and the Dolphins haven’t been to the playoffs since 2008. But Suh endorsed the direction of his new team.

’’This front office is something special,’’ Suh said. ’’I’m very excited to be part of this organization and this team. It’s a good situation we’re in. Now we’ve just got to put it together.’’

Wearing No. 93, he lined up between Pro Bowl end Cameron Wake and veteran tackle Earl Mitchell, and said OTAs are a time for them to bond.

’’It’s all about getting camaraderie and understanding who you’re playing next to, getting used to Earl and Cam and everybody else,’’ Suh said. ’’Whoever lines up next to me and whoever I line up next to, we always want to be somebody’s nightmare and cause havoc. That’s what we’re here to do.’’

The three-time first-team All-Pro defensive tackle looked fit and active in his first practice with the Dolphins, making his way into the backfield several times.

’’That’s what he does, right?’’ center Mike Pouncey said. ’’That’s why we gave him all that money’’

Even in May, Suh said, he plays as fast as he can.

’’If I’m going to make mistakes, I want to do it at full speed, and especially being in the background, er, the backfield.’’

Suh misspoke about being in the background. His contract ensures that won’t happen, whether he shows up or not.

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/ex-lion-ndamukong-suh-draws-attention-at-dolphins-camp/feed0Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh looks on during an NFL football organized team activity, Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at the Dolphins training facility in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)associatedpresswsLions defensive end Ndamukong Suh, left, argues with referee Terry McAulay against the Green Bay Packers. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Lions rookies Tomlinson, Abdullah try to improve running gamehttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/lions-rookies-tomlinson-abdullah-try-to-improve-running-game
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/lions-rookies-tomlinson-abdullah-try-to-improve-running-game#commentsSat, 09 May 2015 20:51:43 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=479310]]>ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Jim Caldwell’s first season as coach of the DetroitLions was largely a success, with the team making the playoffs for only the second time in the past 15 years.

If there was an area of disappointment, it was probably the running game. The Lions struggled to move the ball consistently on the ground, and that was part of the reason the offence as a whole went through some underwhelming stretches.

“We’re working at it,” Caldwell said. “You can give it lip service all you want, but we also have added personnel to kind of help us do that. So we intend to get better, and we must.”

Two players the Lions added to help their running game were on hand this weekend for the team’s rookie minicamp, which wraps up Sunday.

In the draft last week, Detroit picked offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson in the first round and running back Ameer Abdullah in the second. Both newcomers have a chance to help the Lions in areas where the team fell short last year.

“My first impression was just, ’Wow, this is NFL football,”’ Tomlinson said. “Go out there and show the coaches what you can do.”

The Lions went 11-6 last season, but they averaged 88.9 yards rushing, ranking 28th in the league. Reggie Bush had only 76 carries, and Joique Bell averaged just 3.9 yards per attempt.

Detroit cut Bush this off-season, meaning there was room for another back to complement Bell. Abdullah was the choice, taken with the 54th pick in the draft after a stellar career at Nebraska.

In addition to Abdullah and Tomlinson, the Lions also drafted fullback Michael Burton in the fifth round and offensive lineman Corey Robinson in the seventh. The message was clear: Detroit wants to be a more powerful team up front on offence.

That could mean better protection for quarterback Matthew Stafford, but it’s the running game that may benefit even more from Detroit’s off-season moves. The Lions also traded for veteran offensive lineman Manny Ramirez.

Stafford improved his completion percentage a bit last season, but his total of 4,257 yards passing was the lowest of his career over a full season. He was sacked a career-high 45 times, and the lack of a strong running game didn’t help matters.

“It’s a quarterback’s best friend — plain and simple,” Caldwell said. “It takes some of the pressure off of him. Just in terms of our situation last year — we run the ball a little bit better, that gives us a chance to win a couple more ballgames. A couple more ballgames is the difference between 11-5 and 13-3.”

Abdullah rushed for over 1,600 yards in each of his final two seasons at Nebraska, while Tomlinson performed well enough at Duke to become that program’s first player drafted in the first round since 1987.

Now they begin the process of trying to impress new coaches and learn a new team’s system. Adaptability is key as players work their way into better condition.

“No matter what you do, until you get back to playing football, you’re never in top football shape,” Abdullah said. “I did a pretty good job in the off-season, training pretty hard, so I felt pretty good today. Obviously, your legs get a little tired.”

The 5-foot-11 Bell has shouldered an increased workload over the last three seasons, rushing for a career-high 860 yards in 2014. So Detroit doesn’t need someone else to come in and be an immediate star in the backfield.

The Lions just need another back who can give the team an additional option. That, along with a better performance from the offensive line, could make a big difference.

“I’d like to be able to add a real strong running game,” Caldwell said. “Our running game was sporadic. There were some times, it was really good, and then there were some times, it wasn’t good enough. We’ve just got to get it where it’s consistent.”

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http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/lions-rookies-tomlinson-abdullah-try-to-improve-running-game/feed0Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah runs a drill during an NFL football rookie minicamp in Allen Park, Mich., Friday, May 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)associatedpresswsLions GM Martin Mayhew works NFL Draft to fill roster holeshttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/lions-gm-martin-mayhew-works-nfl-draft-to-fill-roster-holes
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/lions-gm-martin-mayhew-works-nfl-draft-to-fill-roster-holes#commentsSun, 03 May 2015 21:00:53 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=476336]]>While general manager Martin Mayhew said the Detroit Lions were still focused on the best ‘player available’ in the NFL Draft, he did not hesitate to move up or back in certain rounds to help fill specific roster holes.

Mayhew traded back in the first round on Thursday’s opening day of the draft, moved up in Friday’s second round of the draft and moved up again in the fourth round of Saturday’s final day of the draft to take Auburn defensive tackle Gabe Wright.

“This was a case, I think a lot of times, where the need met up with the right grade on a player,” said Mayhew, who gave up a third-round pick in 2016 to Philadelphia to move into Saturday’s fourth round.

“Throughout the draft, the need frequently matched up with the grades on the players. We checked off a lot of things we thought that we needed.”

Opting to go for an offensive lineman rather than a defensive tackle in the first round, Mayhew knew he had to address the position after losing Ndamukog Suh and Nick Fairley to free agency.

“We talked about him in the third round,” Mayhew said of Wright. “I mean, being strong up front is critically important for us, for me and for this football team on both sides of the ball, offensive line and defensive line.”

ESPN draft specialist Mel Kiper Jr. thought the six-foot-four, 300-pound Wright could have been a first-round pick a year ago had he opted to leave Auburn after winning a national championship. However, he opted to return and his numbers dipped, but Wright said there were reasons for that and admits it was a learning experience.

“I learned that consistency is key,” Wright said. “I feel like once in a while in a man’s life he needs a piece of humble pie.

“I trained my whole junior year and that spring thinking I was going to be a defensive tackle. Two weeks before fall camp, I was told I would be starting at defensive end. When I go to the NFL, I am pretty sure I won’t be practising at defensive end if I am going to be playing defensive tackle in the fall. I feel like that, in a sense of a prep, is where things will change.”

While the Lions, like many NFL teams, don’t incorporate a fullback often, Mayhew grabbed five-foot-11, 242-pound Michael Burton from Rutgers in the fifth round.

“There are no fullbacks anymore,” Mayhew said. “Fullback is a dying position in college football with all the spread offences. But this guy is very talented, very athletic. He catches the ball really well out of the backfield, can locate guys in space and block in space, so we liked him a lot.”

A walk-on at recruits that eventually earned a scholarship, Burton is also a standout special teams player.

“I was on every special teams at Rutgers throughout my entire career,” Burton said. “I have a lot of experience on special teams and I understand that will be a very important goal for me when I get to camp.”

With Detroit’s defensive secondary ravaged with injuries last season, the Lions took a cornerback for the second time in the draft getting five-foot-nine, 196-pound Quandre Diggs out of Texas.

“Well, obviously, we had the injuries at nickel last year,” said Mayhew, who took cornerback Alex Carter in the third round. “I felt like it’s better to have too many than not have enough.

“So, Quandre was a great pickup for us, outstanding player, great kid, great guy, hard worker. ”

A four-year starter at Texas, some believe Diggs is too small to play cornerback on a regular basis and will more likely play inside at nickel back on passing downs.

“It’s about how you go out and play on Sundays. I am just going to go out and show the coaches what I can do,” said Diggs, who is the younger brother of former NFLer Quentin Jammer.

Having helped the interior of the offensive line in the first round, the Lions wrapped up Saturday’s draft by taking six-foot-seven, 324-pound Corey Robinson, who some had projected would go in the third round.

Mayhew likes the fact he was a three-year starter in college at South Carolina.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Robinson said of slipping to the seventh round. “I knew I wasn’t a perfect player.

“My agent told me it is an unpredictable process. You can never know what a team thinks of you. I respect what teams think (and) I am glad I am in Detroit.”